Western Kentucky Will Screw Us All

With all of the other stuff about College Football out there, we decided that it couldn't possibly hurt to add something else to the party that is Web 2.0. So since updates during the fall are a little less frequent (I blame the ADs), and finances going as far as they do, we're going to start adding a weekly feature around here that is kind of a round up of what you just saw over the weekend. This week's obviously coming a couple of days later than it could have, but you should expect to see some sort of update here about the same time that the various media outlets have their rankings up (Sunday around dinner time). Honestly, the goal is to keep you informed as well as interested as we transition this a little bit through the season. It is much more difficult to take long tours around the backroads that are our college towns during the winter, and schools do well to lock down their facilities during the season, so it's tougher to run buck wild through the country looking to hop fences when there are individuals on the other side of those fences. One of my traveling counterparts Shawn will be doing a lot of the writing because he's frankly wittier than I am, and I'm sure he'll hold your attention longer than I can. So I hope you get some enjoyment out of reading what we have here for you, and good luck through the season.

Dave



Thanks for the kind words, Dave. Although why you think talking about "Web 2.0" isn't enough to keep people's attention I'll never understand. Week one is less of a round up, and more of me imploring those of you who are stuck in a conference-centric mindset to come to the freedom I have (re)found.

Quit thinking of the respective conference of your favorite team as a “family.” Please. It could be that you don’t even realize you think of it in this way, but I promise that a vast majority of you do. You argue that the Pac-10 is “better” than the SEC because Cal beat Tennessee, which gives you pride as an ASU fan. Being a Buckeye, you’re always thrilled when Michigan loses, but you feel that tinge of fear that you may have to hear about the Big 10 being overrated. Stop thinking that way. Hate every other team in your conference, and root for them to lose as often as possible. I promise, you’ll enjoy it. Here’s why: it’s how you used to do it. Back when you first fell in love with a team. Back when rooting was as simple as it should be. You’re conference rivals will not lose every game; you should accept each loss they offer as a gift.
This desire for simplicity started with last year’s National Championship, and came to a head this past weekend. I’m from Georgia and bleed red and black (similar to those suffering from the Ebola virus, but less mess). But I went to school in Ohio, and most of my friends are fans of either Ohio State or Michigan. Now my dad is also an Ohio State fan, and one of my favorite memories is watching the 2003 National Championship game with him. But something changed last year. It seemed as if the Ohio State faithful (my dad, thankfully, excluded) tried to change OSU/UF into Big 10/SEC. I drove home to watch the game with my dad, knowing either result would be a little awkward for me. You know how it ended: my least favorite team became the 2006 National Champions, and my dad had to deal with the loss. But then Georgia’s conference got the rep of being the obviously superior conference (although they still went 1-2 against the Big-10 last bowl season).
Saturday, Tennessee went out to Berkeley to complete a home-and-home with Cal. It was the same situation as UF/OSU, only with a different outcome. Hated rival loses, but the SEC shows some kinks in the armor. But I’ve had it. I can no longer root for teams I hate, even when it would make my conference look better. I want Georgia to win the SEC every season, but I’ve stopped caring whether or not the SEC wins the hypothetical “best conference” argument ever again. Follow me; it’s a better way.

Florida State fans, don’t ever feel that a Miami loss is ever anything less than a positive for you. Ever.

OU fans, if Texas ever goes 0-12, you should be able to rejoice without fear of repercussions.

Georgia fans, I hope you’re like me in dreaming of a season where Florida, Tennessee, and Auburn only beat each other. I dreamt this as a young fan, and I’ve learned to dream this dream again.

Shawn

P.S. Sorry you were promised wit and instead received a discourse, but I needed to get that off my chest.